Hamburger gill disease
Hamburger gill disease, also known as proliferative gill disease, is an infectious disease of catfish caused primarily by the myxozoan parasite Henneguya ictaluri. The disease is characterized by severe damage to the gills, which become swollen, hemorrhagic, and mottled and may resemble raw hamburger meat, giving the disease its common name.[1][2]
Etiologic agent
Hamburger gill disease results from infection with Henneguya ictaluri, a myxozoan parasite with a two host life cycle involving the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and the aquatic worm, Dero digitata.[3] Infected worms release the actinospore stage of H. ictaluri into the water, where it can infect catfish through the gills, skin or gastrointestinal tract.[4]
Following infection, H. ictaluri disseminates throughout the fish before development becomes concentrated in the gills.[5]
Disease
The characteristic lesions of hamburger gill disease result from extensive damage to the gills. As the disease progresses, swelling and proliferation of gill tissue reduce the surface area available for gas exchange, impairing respiratory functions.[6]
References
- ↑ Mitchell, A.J.; Durborrow, R.M.; Crosby, M.D. (1998). "Proliferative Gill Disease (Hamburger Gill Disease)" (PDF). Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ Kelly, Anita M. (2020-04-07). "Proliferative Gill Disease". Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ Pote, L. M.; Hanson, L. A.; Shivaji, R. (2000-09-01). "Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Sequences Link the Cause of Proliferative Gill Disease in Channel Catfish to Henneguya n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea)". Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 12 (3): 230–240. doi:10.1577/1548-8667(2000)012<0230:SSRRSL>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0899-7659.
- ↑ Gómez, Daniela; Bartholomew, Jerri; Sunyer, J. Oriol (2014). "Biology and mucosal immunity to myxozoans". Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 43 (2): 243–256. doi:10.1016/j.dci.2013.08.014. ISSN 1879-0089. PMC 4216934. PMID 23994774.
- ↑ Belem, A. M.; Pote, L. M. (2001-12-20). "Portals of entry and systemic localization of proliferative gill disease organisms in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 48 (1): 37–42. doi:10.3354/dao048037. ISSN 0177-5103. PMID 11843138.
- ↑ Griffin, Matt J.; Wise, David J.; Camus, Alvin C.; Mauel, Michael J.; Greenway, Terrence E.; Pote, Linda M. (2008). "A Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Detection of the Myxozoan Parasite Henneguya Ictaluri in Channel Catfish". Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 20 (5): 559–566. doi:10.1177/104063870802000504. ISSN 1040-6387.